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Master
Tattoo was simply called "Tahiti
Felix's" and in large letters
TATTOO, but later renamed to
Master Tattoo in October of 1949.
In 2005 with respect to our
founder we added Tahiti Felix's
name back onto the shop signage.
Here he is pictured (1st photo
below) with an Old Salt of the
period "Sailor Cox" back in
1954.
Tahiti Felix was apprenticed by
artist L. "Mac" McKeaver at the
famous Pike in Long Beach
California. It is here where he
learned the art of tattoing and
made a living from 1938 until
early 1948. He soon opened a shop
just over the bridge in San
Pedro, Ca. This shop was short
lived due to the lack of traffic.
In 1949, after scouting for
several weekends decided to open
shop in San Diego's downtown
district just blocks away from
the landing dock for the US
Navy's liberty boats and
thousands of sailors and
marines.
Since
it's inception, Master Tattoo has
changed its location 6 times due
to construction and downtown's
redevelopment. Master Tattoo has
never been more than 5 blocks
from any location. Business was
so good from the Navy and Marine
corps that a second shop was
opened to cater the "Sea of white
hats". During the mid 1950's
Master's went back to one shop
and has stayed the same since.
Today and our latest and probably
last shop for many many years is
our 924 5th avenue shop and now
museum. With over 1500 sq. ft. we
are now able to showcase Tahiti
Felix's entire collection
spanning over 80 years of orignal
tattoo art, machines and
artifacts you will not find
anywhere in town!
Location #01:
1949 - 1954 317 F. Street.
Directly across the street
from the Hollywood Burlesque
Theatre
(Before it was the trendy Galamp
Quarter!)
-
Location
#02:
1955
- 1956 820 4th Avenue
which would be where
Horton Plaza's parking lot
entrance now stands.
Location #03:
1956 - 1980 141 West
Broadway
- During
the mid 60's thru
1981
Maurice worked at the 401
Mission Ave. At Sullivan's
Arcade / Tattoo Studio in
Oceanside, Ca. During the
Vietnam war , Oceanside became
a non-stop tattooing mecca
servicing Marines from nearby
Camp Pendleton.
FYI- Maurice worked alongside
Buzz Claydon while brother
Hiro worked part-time
alongside his father back in
San Diego. Serving the locals
as well as the Navy &
Marines occupying the area.
When the shop closed its doors
in 1981 Maurice would tattoo
in Los Angeles alongside the
likes of Greg James, Tenn.
Dave, and Capt. Jim before
returning to San Diego.
- Location
#04:
1980 - 1990 326 West
Broadway
next door to the Play land
Arcade & Cindy's Topless
Bar.
This location is now home to
San Diego's "Hall Of Justice"
Courthouse.
- Location
#05:
1990-2005 944 5th Avenue
in downtown's trendy
Gaslamp Quarter district.
Now this space went from a
Surf clothing store to Yogurt
shop to it's curent Tribal
Gear clothing store.
Location
#06:
2006-2009 439 Broadway
Celebrating our 60th year
of continuous
service!
A
great little space with a
whole lotta old school flavor
- Good times there,
although we are not going to
miss the bus stop of homeless
crazies on broadway.
Location
#07:924 5th Ave.
Our current location and home
to San Diego's only tattoo
museum
Just 3 doors down from
location #5 and around the
corner from location
#6.
Master
Tattoo Studio Family Tree
*
Names in
maroon
indicate currently working at
Master Tattoo.
|
Artist
Name:
|
Years
Served:
|
Status:
|
|
"Tahiti"
Felix
|
1949
- 1979
|
Owner/Founder
|
|
Ol
"Doc" Webb
|
1957
(6 mos.)
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Al
"Lefty"
Miller
|
1956-2000
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Bob
Miller
|
Data
Not Available
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Zeke
Owens
|
1963
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Ralph
Johnston
|
1955-1957
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
"Capt"
Jim Malonson
|
1954-1962
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Harry
Rose
|
Data
Not Available
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
"Shanghai"
Rex Valentino
|
1956-1960
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Ted
Warner
|
1950-1955
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
"Tiger"
Bob Martinson
|
1955-1985
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Sailor
West
|
Data
Not Available
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Tahiti
Maurice Lynch
|
1955-Present
|
Owner
|
|
Hiro
Lynch
|
1963-Present
|
Owner
|
|
Curly
Pope
|
1954-1958
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Jerry
Pope
|
1954-1958
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Gil
Taimana
|
1990-Present
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Rose
|
1991-1992
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Dennis
"Frenchy"
Besnard
|
1991-1993/2000-2004
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Paul
Drezmala
|
1993-1994
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Stanley
Beecraft
|
1994-1995
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Catt
"Gato" Stark
|
1995-1996
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Bob
Noble
|
1995-2000
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
"Chino"
Rodriguez
|
1999-2008
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Mark
"Wermer"
Womer
|
1999-2000/2004-2007
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
"Southbay"
Mike
Kellerman
|
2000-2002
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Terry
"Sunshine"
Ribera
|
2001-2004
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Cristian
Benvenuto
|
May-June
2001
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Chris
Walkin
|
2001-2003
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Nate
Banuelos
|
2002
- 2003
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Al
Avila
|
2004
- Present
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Mike
"Feathertouch"
Sykowski
|
2008-2009
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Carson
|
2008-Present
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Greg
D.
|
2009
- Present
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
"Diamondback"
Zach Pensmith
|
2009
- Present
|
Full
Time Artist
|
|
Cristian
Benvenuto
|
Benvenuto
Tatttoo/Buenos Aires,
AG
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Christian
Nguyen
|
Ink
Vaders/Geneva,
Switzerland
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Greg
Loraigne
|
Ink
Vaders/Geneva,
Switzerland
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
GunzNKnivez
|
Nightmare
Studios/Reno,
NV
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Brandyn
|
Traditional
Ink/Hollywood,
CA
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Timmy
Tatts
|
Tattoo
Marks/College,
PA
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Lowercase
J
|
Tattoo
Marks/College,
PA
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Kristian
|
Legacy
Tattoo/Helsinki,
FInland
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Pewee
|
Olde
#13/East Los
Angeles
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Mariana
Ruiz
|
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Joey
Luck
|
Tattooed
Planet/Tempe,
AZ
|
Guest
Artist
|
|
Volunteers
|
Date:
|
|
Yva
Lynch
|
1990-1995
|
|
Wendy
|
1990
|
|
Steve
Wilson
|
1991-1994
|
|
Diana
Beecraft
|
1994-1995
|
|
Linda
Stark
|
1995-1996
|
|
Dennis
Connors
|
1994-1996
|
|
Luis
Ramirez
|
1995-1999
/ 2009 -
|
|
Peter
Wilder
|
1996-2005
|
|
Matt
Johnson
|
2007-Present
|
All Data is not 100% accurate as
it was dictated from memory.
Any
accurate data email
us!
|
